“The Neva is the main waterway of Petersburg and the town is situated along its banks and across the islands of its broad delta. It is one of the largest rivers in Europe by volume of water and also one of the world’s shortest major rivers at only 74 kilometers. The Neva connects Lake Ladoga, the largest lake in Europe, to the Baltic Sea. For centuries, it was of great strategic importance for transport and so the interests of the Russians, Swedes, Finns, and Balts clashed on its banks. From the 8th-13th centuries, the Neva was part of the trade route from Scandinavia to Byzantium, the road “from the Varangians to the Greeks.” In 1240, the Novgorod militia led by Prince Alexander Yaroslavich defeated the invading Swedish army on the banks of the Neva. Because of the victory, the prince was thereafter nicknamed Alexander Nevsky (of the Neva). But the main page in the history of this great river began to be written, of course, in 1703 when St. Petersburg was founded at the mouth of the Neva.” (source – http://www.saint-petersburg.com/rivers-and-canals/neva-river/)

The title is an ironic reference to the central character of the novel, Prince (Knyaz) Lyov Nikolaevich Myshkin, a young man whose goodness and open-hearted simplicity lead many of the more worldly characters he encounters to mistakenly assume that he lacks intelligence and insight. In the character of Prince Myshkin, Dostoevsky set himself the task of depicting “the positively good and beautiful man”.[2] The novel examines the consequences of placing such a unique individual at the centre of the conflicts, desires, passions and egoism of worldly society, both for the man himself and for those with whom he becomes involved. The result, according to philosopher A.C. Grayling, is “one of the most excoriating, compelling and remarkable books ever written; and without question one of the greatest.”[3]

The mirabelle Plum is identified by its small, oval shape, smooth-textured flesh, and especially by its red, or dark yellow colour which becomes flecked in appearance. They are known for being sweet and full of flavour. The fruit is primarily used in fruit preserves and dessert pies, and its juice is commonly fermented for wine or distilled into plum brandy. Ninety percent of mirabelle plums grown commercially are made into either jam (70%) or eau de vie (20%). The plums are also excellent when eaten fresh. (source – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirabelle_plum)

“It is different. Russian word for cat is kot (the k and t sounds are different from those of english). in armenian cat is katu again k and t are different from that of english . Cat kot katu . These words are not the same, but they are similar. Anyway all these languages are indoeuropean. / written by Mihr Aharuni, An Armenian from Diaspora.”

“The Neva (Russian: Нева́, IPA: [nʲɪˈva]) is a river in northwestern Russia flowing from Lake Ladoga through the western part of Leningrad Oblast (historical region of Ingria) to the Neva Bay of the Gulf of Finland. Despite its modest length of 74 kilometres (46 mi), it is the fourth largest river in Europe in terms of average discharge (after the Volga, the Danube and the Rhine).” (source From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Hermitage Horses. “The Hermitage is comprised of two big sections – the Winter Palace, which was the living apartments and state rooms for the Russian imperial family, and the “Hermitage,” rooms built for the art collections. Catherine the Great knew that good art reflected well on the Russian monarchy, so she collected big time, especially paintings of Western Europe. In the Hermitage, kids will see so many fabulous paintings in the original.” (source https://www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo/Russia/hermitagemuseum.htm)

Our marriage in Russia is official. It might sound funny to anyone who has never come face to face with Russian burocracy. Marriage in Russia is one of the easiest things to accomplish. But only a state marriage is considered official. Here we are throwing snow up in the air in Leningrad – Saint Petersburg to prove it!

Construction of the stone Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin began in 1500 with the building of the Ivanovo Tower; the main work commenced in 1508 and by 1515 a grandiose building was completed. The oak walls that formed the old fortifications were destroyed by a huge fire in 1513. (source Wikipedia)

The body of the koryushka fish (European smelt) is typically 15 to 18 cm long, slender and slightly flattened on either side. Larger fish may reach 30 cm in length. Smelts have a slightly translucent body. The back and sides are grey-green to pink in colour, the flanks bright silver. The tailfin has a dark border. The smelt lives for up to six years. One characteristic is its intense smell, reminiscent of fresh cucumbers. (source Wikipedia)

Russian Carrots are one of the worlds healthiest foods. There’s some truth that carrots are good for your eyes. (Ok – I’m not web MD – but Yoast has instructed me to be more articulate.) Studies have shown carrots reduce the risk of lung cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer. Carrots are good for your eyes. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene. Enjoy a Russian Carrot Platter!

This shack is across the dirt path from my wife’s Russian dacha. Started this painting using sketching fundamentals. Then with auto painting in painter 2017, oily blender, born bristles and soft glazing. After the auto painting I overlayed the freehand sketching fundamental. Hmm like oil and water. My freehand sketching fundamental does not match the cloned auto painting. But so much fun, Ill take it!

Imaginary winter-scape was painted following along closely with a video tutorial by Karen Bonaker of the Digital Art Academy. It is hard for me to follow instructions without wandering off on some tangent. Im very excited about this new technique Karen is showing us in Painter 2017.

Every where one looks there are more dacha flowers. Every corner of this tiny piece of land explodes with beauty every July. Every other corner is crammed with fresh growing scallions, carrots, tomato’s and potatoes. This is great spot to eat fresh salads every day. This place with more dacha flowers is a great spot on this planet.

Last year my wife took a photo of this Russian snow market. This week I turned it into this painting. I’m not sure Russian snow market really exist. But it sounds good so I’m going with it. I added the snow storm.

These flowering Russian weeds are abundant in the mother land. Locals snarl and growl as these local weeds overtake every meter. The damn things are everywhere and really difficult to control. In reality these Russian weeds are incredibly beautiful.

This painting includes one & a half russians. Grandpa is visiting from the “motherland”. Kartushka is 7 months old, in control of us all. She is half Russki, half Amaeriskanski. Hope you all will wish her luck on this planet?

This beautiful abstract Carrot was grown lovingly by my late Russian mother in law Ludmila Alexandrova. Every spring she planted hundreds of vegetable seeds in her apartment. The window ledges were packed full before she rode her bicycle the five miles to her Dacha. There she spent days turning the dirt by hand with her shovel. This is a rare beautiful carrot that could only have been grown by a proud Russian, my late mother in law Ludmila Alexandrova.